WSTC Birth to Three Institute 2021 - Virtual!

Between birth and age three, children rapidly achieve many important milestones that create the foundation for later growth and development.  In Part 1 we will explore what intentional choices can we make with children to support their learning while being an intentional partner in play? We will look at specific strategies that enrich being a partner in play through opportunities for discovery and actively participating in their play. As responsive partners in play, we will address the growth of the whole child while respecting them and their play.

During Part 2, we will look at the role the caregiver plays in helping to foster children's learning and development. We will explore how to be responsive to a child’s cues and providing support as children develop and reach milestones. We will discuss strategies and activities to support communication, language, and physical development while engaging with infants and toddlers.

As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

* list opportunities for a child’s discovery

* apply a 3-step process to initiate responsive teacher-child interactions.

* employ contributions while being a partner in play

* define and describe the stages of language and physical development for infants and toddlers

* implement effective strategies to support children’s language and physical development

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Between birth and age three, children rapidly achieve many important milestones that create the foundation for later growth and development.  In Part 1 we will explore what intentional choices can we make with children to support their learning while being an intentional partner in play? We will look at specific strategies that enrich being a partner in play through opportunities for discovery and actively participating in their play. As responsive partners in play, we will address the growth of the whole child while respecting them and their play.

During Part 2, we will look at the role the caregiver plays in helping to foster children's learning and development. We will explore how to be responsive to a child’s cues and providing support as children develop and reach milestones. We will discuss strategies and activities to support communication, language, and physical development while engaging with infants and toddlers.

As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

list opportunities for a child’s discovery

apply a 3-step process to initiate responsive teacher-child interactions.

employ contributions while being a partner in play

define and describe the stages of language and physical development for infants and toddlers

implement effective strategies to support children’s language and physical development

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This two part session will focus briefly on why resiliency and wellness are critically important and then dive deeper into what subtle adjustments and concrete strategies can be used to sustain us as we continue to navigate trauma-saturated environments with integrity, hope, and an increased sense of well-being. Participants will gain a greater understanding of resiliency and wellness and be provided resources and strategies for implementation. 

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What is infant mental health and how can we support it as providers?  Join this workshop to learn about:

·       Attachment and its importance

·       Infant cues and communication

·       Temperament

·       Self-regulation

·       Infant stress signals, and

Why infant mental health matters in early childhood settings.

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This two part session will focus briefly on why resiliency and wellness are critically important and then dive deeper into what subtle adjustments and concrete strategies can be used to sustain us as we continue to navigate trauma-saturated environments with integrity, hope, and an increased sense of well-being. Participants will gain a greater understanding of resiliency and wellness and be provided resources and strategies for implementation.

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In this workshop, we will dive into visual arts, music and movement and dramatic play to discuss how to engage infants and toddlers in meaningful, developmentally appropriate art activities. Through the arts, we will embed meaningful learning opportunities that support language, math, fine and gross motor, and social emotional development…all while having fun!

As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to:

·       embed meaningful learning opportunities into art activities; and

·       provide infants and toddlers with open-ended materials and opportunities for creative expression.

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Let's build on and explore evidence-based practices related to providing responsive care and education in home, classroom, and community settings serving culturally, linguistically, and ability-diverse children, birth to eight years old, and their families.

Our time together will ask you to explore your own personal culture and to explore ways in which to become an effective teacher, and advocate to each young child and their families. Included are strategies for helping teachers, children, families, and colleagues to communicate, negotiate, and resolve dilemmas caused by cultural differences. There will be a focus on using an anti-bias approach.

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What is infant mental health and how can we support it as providers?  Join this workshop to learn about:

·       Attachment and its importance

·       Infant cues and communication

·       Temperament

·       Self-regulation

·       Infant stress signals, and

Why infant mental health matters in early childhood settings.

Add to Calendar

In this workshop, we will dive into visual arts, music and movement and dramatic play to discuss how to engage infants and toddlers in meaningful, developmentally appropriate art activities. Through the arts, we will embed meaningful learning opportunities that support language, math, fine and gross motor, and social emotional development…all while having fun!

As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to:

·       embed meaningful learning opportunities into art activities; and

·       provide infants and toddlers with open-ended materials and opportunities for creative expression.

Add to Calendar

Let's build on and explore evidence-based practices related to providing responsive care and education in home, classroom, and community settings serving culturally, linguistically, and ability-diverse children, birth to eight years old, and their families.

Our time together will ask you to explore your own personal culture and to explore ways in which to become an effective teacher, and advocate to each young child and their families. Included are strategies for helping teachers, children, families, and colleagues to communicate, negotiate, and resolve dilemmas caused by cultural differences. There will be a focus on using an anti-bias approach. 

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Books are the cornerstone of literacy but what the children hear is the cornerstone of language development. In this session, we will define and describe key milestones for children ages 0-3 and how they affect the process of acquiring language and literacy skills. We will discuss the stages of language development and effective strategies we can utilize to support infants and toddlers develop language and literacy skills. We will explore the importance of vocabulary and discuss why we use words the children don’t know. We will discuss the benefits of teaching and utilizing sign language and how to develop a bond with children through the exploring language and print.

As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

·       define and describe developmental milestones of children ages 0-3;

·       utilize effective strategies to support infants and toddlers develop language and literacy skills.

Add to Calendar

Trauma and hope informed practice in the field of early childhood service provision requires a high level of skill and commitment from all levels of an organization. Home visitors and other early childhood service providers have shared they do not always feel well equipped or prepared to engage families in sensitive conversations around ACEs and trauma. We believe early childhood service providers deserve to experience the same level of support and respect they provide to the families they serve. The NEAR@Home toolkit was developed by home visitors for home visitors to begin to meet this need. A learning process was subsequently developed and tested to guide and support early childhood providers working in the context of relationship-based practice in having sensitive conversations around ACEs and trauma. The learning process is relationship-based, reflective, and grounded in principles of safety and social justice, guided by facilitators fluent in infant mental health principles and trauma and hope informed practice.

You are invited to join us as we discuss some of the foundational principles of the NEAR@Home learning process and way of being. We will journey together through the experience of a NEAR home visit, pausing along the way for reflection on thoughts and feelings that may arise. Please bring something to write with/on for personal reflection. We may also provide opportunity for reflection in small groups. We will acknowledge this topic as stressful and discuss safety and choice. We will also share NEAR@Home resources, many of which are free and available to anyone. This session is ideal for home visitors and early childhood service providers who view engaging in sensitive conversations with families as part of their role, as well as the supervisors who support them. 

Add to Calendar

Books are the cornerstone of literacy but what the children hear is the cornerstone of language development. In this session, we will define and describe key milestones for children ages 0-3 and how they affect the process of acquiring language and literacy skills. We will discuss the stages of language development and effective strategies we can utilize to support infants and toddlers develop language and literacy skills. We will explore the importance of vocabulary and discuss why we use words the children don’t know. We will discuss the benefits of teaching and utilizing sign language and how to develop a bond with children through the exploring language and print.

As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

·       define and describe developmental milestones of children ages 0-3;

·       utilize effective strategies to support infants and toddlers develop language and literacy skills.

Add to Calendar

Trauma and hope informed practice in the field of early childhood service provision requires a high level of skill and commitment from all levels of an organization. Home visitors and other early childhood service providers have shared they do not always feel well equipped or prepared to engage families in sensitive conversations around ACEs and trauma. We believe early childhood service providers deserve to experience the same level of support and respect they provide to the families they serve. The NEAR@Home toolkit was developed by home visitors for home visitors to begin to meet this need. A learning process was subsequently developed and tested to guide and support early childhood providers working in the context of relationship-based practice in having sensitive conversations around ACEs and trauma. The learning process is relationship-based, reflective, and grounded in principles of safety and social justice, guided by facilitators fluent in infant mental health principles and trauma and hope informed practice.

You are invited to join us as we discuss some of the foundational principles of the NEAR@Home learning process and way of being. We will journey together through the experience of a NEAR home visit, pausing along the way for reflection on thoughts and feelings that may arise. Please bring something to write with/on for personal reflection. We may also provide opportunity for reflection in small groups. We will acknowledge this topic as stressful and discuss safety and choice. We will also share NEAR@Home resources, many of which are free and available to anyone. This session is ideal for home visitors and early childhood service providers who view engaging in sensitive conversations with families as part of their role, as well as the supervisors who support them. 

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“Moving from Compliance to the Art of Teaching”

Teachers, Home Visitors and other staff in government funded Birth to Three programs face enormous compliance challenges in their work. With so many forms to complete, checklists are everywhere with “deadlines” and requirements often spilling into the relationship based service we hope to provide children and families.  None of us enter this work with young children and families to be good at checklists.  What if, we could reframe our use of tools (e.g. checklists, curriculum and assessment) by focusing on growing our own practice, making our inner lives more part of our professional life and build our confidence in this relationship based work.  This workshop will support the reflective practice of each participant, to explore how we use tools and how they can add to our practice, not lead us.

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Is behavior getting in the way of routines? Interrupting Learning? Stressing you out? Learn WHY it happens, strategies for BEFORE and AFTER challenging behaviors.

WHY - Behavior Analysis models for reflection of the reason behind the behavior.

BEFORE - Prevention Strategies to limit and reduce the frequency and intensity.

AFTER - Redirection and responses to Challenging behavior.

Also, Resources and guidance to Create a Behavior Intervention Plan and monitor progress and effectiveness.

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¿El comportamiento se interpone en el fluye de las rutinas? ¿Interrumpe el aprendizaje? ¿Te estresa? Aprenda POR QUÉ sucede, estrategias para ANTES y DESPUÉS de comportamientos desafiantes.

POR QUÉ - Modelos de análisis de comportamiento para la reflexión de la razón detrás del comportamiento.

ANTES- Estrategias de prevención para limitar y reducir la frecuencia e intensidad.

DESPUÉS- Redirección y respuestas al comportamiento difíciles.

Además, recursos y orientación para crear un plan de intervención de comportamiento y monitorear el progreso y la efectividad.

Add to Calendar

“Moving from Compliance to the Art of Teaching”

Teachers, Home Visitors and other staff in government funded Birth to Three programs face enormous compliance challenges in their work. With so many forms to complete, checklists are everywhere with “deadlines” and requirements often spilling into the relationship based service we hope to provide children and families.  None of us enter this work with young children and families to be good at checklists.  What if, we could reframe our use of tools (e.g. checklists, curriculum and assessment) by focusing on growing our own practice, making our inner lives more part of our professional life and build our confidence in this relationship based work.  This workshop will support the reflective practice of each participant, to explore how we use tools and how they can add to our practice, not lead us.

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Las relaciones tempranas son tan importantes para el desarrollo de bebés y niños. En los primeros años, las relaciones nutritivas, estables y consistentes son la clave para crecimiento, desarrollo y aprendizaje saludables. Para nutrir el desarrollo y el bienestar de los más pequeños de la mejor manera posible también debemos cuidarnos bien (por no mencionar que merecemos hacerlo de todos modos).

Este divertido, experiencial e interactivo taller le introducirá y guiará a través de prácticas tanto para niños como para adultos para reducir el estrés, elevar la relajación y ayudar a calmar el sistema nervioso.

Se enseñarán técnicas de atención plena, ejercicios de respiración, imágenes guiadas y otras estrategias para ayudar a los proveedores, junto con los niños y las familias a las que sirven, a hacer frente a las mayores ansiedades e incertidumbres a las que todos hemos estado enfrentando. Este taller se centrará en ofrecer oportunidades de práctica directa, para encontrar la calma en el momento.

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Is behavior getting in the way of routines? Interrupting Learning? Stressing you out? Learn WHY it happens, strategies for BEFORE and AFTER challenging behaviors.

WHY - Behavior Analysis models for reflection of the reason behind the behavior.

BEFORE - Prevention Strategies to limit and reduce the frequency and intensity.

AFTER - Redirection and responses to Challenging behavior.

Also, Resources and guidance to Create a Behavior Intervention Plan and monitor progress and effectiveness.

Add to Calendar

Early relationships are so important to developing infants and children.  In the early years, nurturing, stable and consistent relationships are the key to healthy growth, development and learning.  To nurture the development and well-being of the little ones in the best way possible we must also be taking good care of ourselves (not to mention that we deserve to anyway).

This fun, experiential and interactive workshop will introduce and guide you through practices for both children and adults to reduce stress, raise relaxation, and help calm the nervous system. Mindfulness techniques, breathing exercises, guided imagery and other strategies will be taught to help providers, along with the children and families they serve, cope with the heightened anxieties and uncertainties we have all been facing. This training will focus on offering direct practice opportunities during the workshop, to find calm in the moment.

Add to Calendar

¿El comportamiento se interpone en el fluye de las rutinas? ¿Interrumpe el aprendizaje? ¿Te estresa? Aprenda POR QUÉ sucede, estrategias para ANTES y DESPUÉS de comportamientos desafiantes.

POR QUÉ - Modelos de análisis de comportamiento para la reflexión de la razón detrás del comportamiento.

ANTES- Estrategias de prevención para limitar y reducir la frecuencia e intensidad.

DESPUÉS- Redirección y respuestas al comportamiento difíciles.

Además, recursos y orientación para crear un plan de intervención de comportamiento y monitorear el progreso y la efectividad.

Add to Calendar

Early relationships are so important to developing infants and children.  In the early years, nurturing, stable and consistent relationships are the key to healthy growth, development and learning.  To nurture the development and well-being of the little ones in the best way possible we must also be taking good care of ourselves (not to mention that we deserve to anyway).

This fun, experiential and interactive workshop will introduce and guide you through practices for both children and adults to reduce stress, raise relaxation, and help calm the nervous system. Mindfulness techniques, breathing exercises, guided imagery and other strategies will be taught to help providers, along with the children and families they serve, cope with the heightened anxieties and uncertainties we have all been facing. This training will focus on offering direct practice opportunities during the workshop, to find calm in the moment.

Add to Calendar